Panel door construction



March 15, 1960 R. H. NEISEWANDER 2,928,462

PANEL DOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 26, was

$2, 4 4 L\ AI /NVENTORI A TTORNEKS'.

United States 1 PANEL DOOR CONSTRUCTION Ray H. Neisewander, Springfield,Ill, assignor to Raynor Manufacturing Company, Dixon, Ill., acorporationof Illinois I Application February 26, 1958, Serial No. 717,610

12 Claims. (Cl. 160-229) This invention relates to a panel doorconstruction, andmore specifically, to a door having a metal frame andhaving an inner panel formed of board. material.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a panel doorhaving a metal frame and being equipped with means for suspending apanel capable of expansion and contraction in all directions within theframe so that one .of the side edges thereof abut the frame members.Another object is to provide a panel door section in which a panelformed of fiber board, hardboard, plastic or even metal is suspendedWithin a 'metal frame so that it is free to expand and to contract inall directions without bending or distorting the frame members, andwithout dislocating the hinges connecting the door section to adjacentsections of a vertical series. In this connection, it is a specificobject to provide a sectional overhead door in which the meeting railsof the adjacent sections sealingiy engage each other along narrowcontact areas to insure a proper seal between successive sections whenthe door is closed. A further object is to provide an overhead paneldoor having frame members which frictionally and sealingly engage afiber board panel by reason of the spring action of the metal membersand which, at

the same time, permit expansion and contraction of th floating panel.

Other objects will appear from the specification and the drawings, inwhich: j

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a sectional overhead doorembodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged and broken vertical section taken along line 2-2of Figure 1 and showing a pair of adjacent door sections of the verticalseries; and

Figure 3 is an enlarged and broken horizontal sectional view of the doortaken along the line 33 of Figure 1. v

. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, thenumeral 10 generally designates a sectional overhead door having avertical series of hinged door sections 11, 12, 15 and 14. Each doorsection comprises a rectangular and horizontally elongated panel 15formed of board material and a metal frame 16 extending about theperiphery of that panel. Preferably, the panel is formed from a hardfiber board material, although it will be understood that other suitablesheet materials may be used.

Each frame 16 is composed of a plurality of vertical and horizontalframe members which define a continuous channel for receiving theperipheral edge portions of the panel. Thus, each door section has anupper frame member 17, a lower frame member 18, and a pair of side framemembers 19. These frame members may be formed or rolled from sheet steelor aluminum or from any other suitable material.

In the illustration given, each door section is provided with aplurality of vertical wooden support members 26 disposed behind thefiber board panel and connected at their upper and lower ends to thehorizontal frame mempoints are wider than the thickness of the panel 15,and

bers 17 and 18 by means of screws 21. A pair of these support membersextend along the sides of each door section and the vertical side framemembers 19 are em-, bedded therein or otherwise fixed thereto. As shownin Figure 1, each section of the door also has a pair of intermediatesupport members, each of which is spaced equidistant between the otherintermediate support memher and one of the side edges of the doorsection. While two intermediate support members 20 are shown in thedrawings, it will be understood that a different number may be provideddepending upon the horizontal length of each rectangular section and thefiber boardpanel provided thereby.

If desired, the lowermost section of the overhead door may be providedwith a wooden bottom rail 22 to which is affixed a handle 23 for movingthe door between open and closed position. Since the mechanism forsupporting such a door as it is moved between open and closed positionsis well known in the art, and since it forms no part of the presentinvention, a detailed description of such structure is believedunnecessary herein.

The adjacent door sections of the vertical series are connected byhinges 24 (Figure 2) which are secured by screws 25 to the rear faces ofthe wooden support members 24? adjacent the meeting rails orframe'members 17 and 18 of the successive sections. a

As shown in Figure 2, the upper horizontal frame member 17 of each doorsection is provided with a fiat intermediate portion 26 which covers theupper ends of the support members 20 and which is apertured to receivescrew connections 21. The upper frame member is also provided with anintegral rear portion 27 which turns upwardly and then forwardly,terminating in a horizontal flange or lip 28 spaced above theintermediate portion 26. At the front of the intermediate portion, theupper frame member turns downwardly, then upwardly and forwardly, andfinally downwardly again to define an inverted U-shaped front portion29. will be seen that the highest point or base of the inverted U-shapedfront portion 29 is disposed belowthe plane of the intermediate portion26.

bases of the oppositely directed U-shaped front portions] 29 and 33. Theintermediate portions 26 and 30 of the adjacent frame members are spacedapart and define a horizontal chamber 34 therebetween. Therefore, evenparticles of dirt or foreign matter should lodge between the framemembers of adjacent 'door section's, they will not impair or otherwiseinterfere with proper operation 1 of the hinges or the formation of aneffective seal between the closed sections of the door. Furthermore,

since the front portions of the adjacent metal frame members engage eachother below the level of'the 'intermediate portion 26 and below thelineof pivotal connection provided by hinges 24, water, snow, etc.cannot readily enter the chamber 3 i or pass through that champ I ber tothe hinges thercbehind.

From Figures 2 and 3 it will be noted that the walls of the. metal framemembers which define the vertical sides of the channels (for receivingthe fiber board panel) are not strictly parallel, but that the outermostwall slopes inwardly and rearwardly. The channels at their widest InFigure 2 it wer the angled-frontwalls of the frame members contact theface of the panel only atthe free edges. of those walls. Therefore,should the thickness 'of the fiber board panel hinged door sections,each of said sections comprising a increase in response to'variationsinwe'ather condi-T" tions, the peripheral edge-portions ofithatpanelwill still be free to slide within the channels defined by themetal frame members. Undersuch conditions, the angled'front walls of theframe members will simply. spring outwardly to accommodate the greaterthickness of the doorpanel;

The fiberboard panel of each door section is suspended.

within the metal frame by connecting means secured to the intermediatesupport members and to the panel at spaced points 'alon'g itshorizontalf'midline. In the" illustrationgiven, the connecting meanscomprises a pair of rivets SS-which project through apertures 36-inftheface of thepanel, and which extend rearwardiy through 5. In an-ov erheaddoor having a vertical series of rectangular *panel formed of sheetmaterial and a metal frame extending thereabout, said frame ofeach ofsaid sections including an upper horizontally elongated frame rnernberhavinga front-portion =defining a downwardly opening longitudinalchannel and having an upwardly projecting rear portion, said frame ofeach of said secopenings 37 in the intermediate support members. -Theopenings'37 are rearwardly tapered (Figure 3)* to permit tions alsoincluding 'a lower horizontally elongated frame member having a frontportion defining an upwardly opening longitudinal channel and having adownwardly projecting rear portion, said panel having the horizontalupper-and lower edges thereofrec'eived within the opposing channels ofsaid upper andlower frame members, the

adjacent upper and lower frame r'nembers of successive sections insaidvertical series being in limited surface engagementvwith each otheralong said rear and front portions and defining a-spaceintermediatejsaidTsurface lateral pivotal movement of the rivets uponexpansion and contraction of the panel.

As shown in the drawings, spaces 'are provided about;

the periphery of each board panel within the channels defined by thevertical and horizontal frame members to V accommodate expansion ofthose panels. The connecting. rivets suspend each panel within itsmetalframe so that the spacing about the periphery of those panelsengaging portions when said overheaddoor is closed.

6;, The structure ofclaim 5 in which said frame of each of saidsectionsalso includes a pairof vertical'side frame members h'aving'vertical channels 'therein continuous. with the channels of said upperand lower frame members for receiving the side edge portions of a panel.

within the channelsis substantially uniform. Therefore;

the fiber panel is firmlysupported in place whilefat the" same time, isfree to expand and contract as humidity andte'mperature conditions varywithout buckling, and without bending or distorting themetalframe'imem'bers.

While in the foregoing 1 have disclosed an embodh mentof the presentinvention in considerable detail for purposes of illustration,itjwill'be understood by those 'skilled in the art that many of 'thesedetails may be. "varied'without departing from thesspirit and scope ofthe invention.

' I claim: .v g

1. In an overhead door having a vertical series of hinged door sections,eachof said sections comprising a member having a flat intermediateportion, an upwardly.

and forwardly turned rear 7 portion, and an .inverted U-shaped frontportion, said frame of each ofsaid. sec- *7. The structure of claim 6 inwhich said channel frame members define a panel-receiving. opening ofgreater vertical and horizontal dimensions than the rectangula'r panelreceived therein, and means provided by each of saidsections forsuspending the panel thereof within'saidframe to provide a continuousand substantiallyuniform space about the periphery of said panel "withinthe channelsof said frame members.

I SllThe 'structure of claim 5 in which the front portions or said upperand lower framernembers are generall igurshaped, each of said frontportions [having inwardly sloping sides in limited surface contact withthe sides of a panel adjacent the periphery thereof, the sides 40rectangular panelfformed of sheet material'and a metal frame extendingthereabout, said frame of each of said sections including an upper,horizontally elongated frame of said Ushaped portions being adapted toflex outwardly to accommodate expansion and contraction of said panel.

9. In apanel' door, the combination ofa rectangular panel formed ofexpandible and contractable sheet materiaLametal frame defininganiopening and comprising vertical and horizontal channel frame membersextending about and receiving in the-channels thereof the pctions alsoincluding a lower horizontally elongated frame member having a fiatintermediateportion, a'downwardly engagement with each otheralongsaidrear andjfr'ont. portions and defining a chamber between theadjacent in f termediate portions when saidoverhead door is closed.

ripheral edge 'portions of said panel, said panel being smaller-thanthe, maximum dimensions of the opening defined, byfth channelqmembers, apair of'vertical sup- 7 port members secu'red to and extending betweensaid 2. The structure of claim 1 in which said frameof each of saidsections also includes a pair of vertical 7 side frame members havingvertical channels therein continuous with the channels of said upper andlower members for receiving the side edge portions of a panel."

3. The structure of claiml in which the U-shapedv front portion of saidlower frame member extends below ,the intermediate portion'of theupper'frame' member of 'the adjacentdoor section disposeddirectlyfth'erehelow when saidoverhead door is closed;

framemeinbers define a panel-receiving opening of greater vertical andhorizontal dimensions thanthe rectangularpanel received therein, andmeans provided byeach of said sections for suspending the panel thereofwithin said frame to provide a continuous and substantially uniform.space about the periphery ofsaid panel within the chan nels of saidframe members.

horizontal-channel frame members behind; said panel,

each of 'saidvertical support members being spaced substantiallyequidistant between the other support member and on'e of the side edgesof said panel, said'support member s beingprovided with horizontalopenings therethrough disposed intermediate the upper and lower edges ofsaid paneljland means connecting said vertical support members resinspanel at points along the 'panels horizontal midline and spaced fromthe-vertical side edges thereof, said connecting means 'cornprising apair of members extending through said horizontal openings and securedat theirforward ends to said panel, said horizontal openings havinggreater lateral dimensions than said connec'ting members to accommodatelateral movement of'sa d connecting members upon expansion andcontractionof said panel, said connecting means suspending'j'said panelwithin said opening to provide spacing about the periphery of said panelwithin the "channels defined bysaid channel members.

' 4. The structure of cla' 2-111 which said jchanneljf 10.;The'structure of, claim 9 'in which said openings are rearwardly tapered,said connecting members being pivotally supported upon said supportmembers for lateral pivotalmovernent of said connecting members uponexpansion and contraction of said panel.

.11, In a panel door, the combination of a rectangular Pa form d f .expnd e nd cqntractable he m x teria1,"a metal frame defining an openingand comprising vertical and horizontal channel frame members extendingabout and receiving in the channels thereof the peripheral edge portionsof said panel, said panel having smaller vertical and horizontaldimensions than the maximum vertical and horizontal dimensions of theopen ing defined by the channel frame members, and at least one verticalsupport member secured to and extending between said horizontal channelframe members behind said panel and being spaced from both of saidvertical channel frame members, said panel being attached to andsuspended by said vertical support member at a point intermediate theupper and lower edges of said panel and having its horizontaland'vertical edges spaced from the respective horizontal and verticalframe members within the channels provided thereby to provide spacingabout the periphery of said panel for expansion and contraction thereof.

12. In an overhead door having a vertical series of hinged doorsections, each of said sections comprising a rectangular panel formed ofsheet material and a metal frame extending thereabout, said frame ofeach of said sections including an upper horizontally elongated framemember having a flat intermediate portion, an upwardly turned rear"portion, and an inverted U-shaped front portion, said frame of each ofsaid sections also including a lower-horizontally elongated frame memberhaving a flat intermediate portion, a downwardly turned rear portion,and a U-shaped front portion, the U-shaped front portions of said upperand lower frame members defining opposing channels for receiving theupper and lower edge portions of a panel, the adjacent lower and upperframe members of successive sections in said vertical series being inlimited surface engagement with each other along said rear and frontportions and defining a chamber between the adjacent intermediateportions when said overhead door is closed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

